News
Ready, steady, flap!
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The 'Red Bull Flugtag' is a special event where anyone can build a flying machine and attempt to soar through the sky, almost like Leonardo Da Vinci tried to over five centuries ago. 45 teams of daredevils, selected by a professional jury according to plans of their aircraft, have built their inventions and are giving it their best. A specially-constructed 6-metre springboard 'runway' has been built over the water in west Moscow's Strogino district for the flying machines to reach for the sky. Though there are no limits to the designers' fantasy or creativity in building their craft, there are still a few rules to obey. Firstly, the 'planes' should be manually-operated only – no motors, engines or fuel allowed. Secondly, all machines must fit within width and weight limits.
The longest flight was set in 2000 in Austria where a man-powered aircraft made 195 feet (almost 60 metres). The first Red Bull Flugtag was held in Vienna, Austria, in 1991. Since then more than 35 Flugtag festivals have been staged worldwide – from Ireland to the U.S. west coast. The competitions attract more and more people every year, winning admiration from growing numbers of spectators. And professional and amateur engineers of all ages take up the challenge to try and pedal (or flap) their way to victory. RT News |
As hundreds look on, the jury judges the flights according to these
criteria: speed, originality and showmanship. These are also among the
key aims of the inventors who have the chance to set new records.
